PHARMACOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF MUSCARINE AND MUSCARONE WITH THEIR DEHYDRO DERIVATIVES

¹ Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago 12, Illinois

dl-Muscarine, dl-epi muscarine and dl-muscarone were compared with their dehydro derivatives, dl-4,5-dehydromuscarine (methyl and hydroxyl trans), dl-4,5-dehydromuscarine (methyl and hydroxyl cis) and dl-4,5-dehydromuscarine, for their effects at postganglionic parasympathetic effector sites, on autonomic ganglia and on neuromuscular synapses.

On the dog pelvic nerve-bladder preparation and on the mouse pupil the dehydro derivatives of muscarine proved to be 4-10 times less potent than dl-muscarine. dl-Dehydromuscarone was found to be 5-15 times less potent than its saturated analogue. In addition to their "muscarinic" action all three dehydro derivatives possess some degree of "nicotinic" action as evidenced by their action on the atropinized dog bladder and by stimulation of the neuromuscular synapses in the isolated frog rectus muscle.

The influence of the double bonds upon the stereostructure and pharmacological actions of these compounds is discussed.